Serious incident: Loaded log truck hits railway bridge

Safety Alert Type:

Log Hauling

Location:

Revelstoke, BC

Date of Incident / Close Call:

2012-07-04

Company Name:

Mike Closs Logging Ltd.

Details of Incident / Close Call:

A top log on a loaded logging truck hit the CPR railway bridge in Revelstoke while en route to the Downie Cedar Mill. It is believed that when the log hit the base of the bridge deck it was dislodged from the load, ‘bunted’ over the trailer and onto the road behind the truck. Fortunately, there were no reports of injury.

The incident was caused by inadvertently neglecting to measure the stake height of the rigging after it was installed onto a different truck. The combined height was over the allowable limit.

Learnings and Suggestions:

• Always check the combined height of truck and rigging after installing or modifying rigging to ensure it complies with regulations.

• Loader operators must familiarize themselves with the varying heights of the stakes on all trucks and trailers they are loading.